U.S. patent application number 13/030320 was filed with the patent office on 2012-08-23 for system and apparatus for cookware storage.
Invention is credited to Ellen Newbauer.
Application Number | 20120211449 13/030320 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46651890 |
Filed Date | 2012-08-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120211449 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Newbauer; Ellen |
August 23, 2012 |
System And Apparatus For Cookware Storage
Abstract
A storage rack assembly for storing cookware comprising: a
mountable rack assembly, where the rack assembly includes two side
bars and plurality of cross bars. The cross bars join the side bars
and create a rack assembly. Side rails are provided along the side
bars of the rack assembly where the side rails provide a mechanism
for mounting the rack assembly onto a ball bearing mounting rack.
The assembly further includes a plurality of adjustable hooks that
are insertable upon the rack assembly and capable of receiving pots
and pans for storage. At least one midsection bar joins the side
bars at a mid section of the rack assembly. In one particular
embodiment, the storage rack assembly is substantially rectangular
in shape.
Inventors: |
Newbauer; Ellen; (Yakima,
WA) |
Family ID: |
46651890 |
Appl. No.: |
13/030320 |
Filed: |
February 18, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/49.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 77/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/49.1 |
International
Class: |
A47F 7/00 20060101
A47F007/00 |
Claims
1. A storage rack assembly for storing cookware comprising: a. a
mountable rack assembly, said rack assembly includes two side bars
and a plurality of cross bars, where said cross bars join the side
bars and create a rack assembly; b. side rails along the side bars
of the rack assembly wherein the side rails provide a means for
mounting the rack assembly onto a ball bearing mounting rack; c. a
plurality of adjustable hooks, where said hooks are insertable upon
the rack assembly and capable of receiving pots and pans for
storage; and d. at least one midsection bar that joins the side
bars at a mid section of the rack assembly.
2. The storage rack assembly according to claim 1, wherein storage
rack assembly is substantially rectangular in shape.
3. The storage rack assembly according to claim 1, wherein said
storage rack assembly is adjustable in height and width to
accommodate various sizes.
4. The storage rack assembly according to claim 1, wherein said
storage rack assembly is manufactured of at least one of plywood,
metal, recycled plastics and aluminum.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a system and apparatus for
storing cookware in a convenient and efficient manner.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Many household kitchens and especially commercial/restaurant
kitchens have a large collection and assortment of cookware. The
cookware may include a significant number of pots, pans, skillets,
lids and other related containers. A variety of cookware may be
necessary to prepare various recipes and cuisines that require
specific cookware.
[0005] Consequently, any collection of cookware must be stored when
not in use and a variety of methods and devices have been developed
to address this issue. In some instances cookware is stacked in a
cabinet kitchen, or in certain instances, the pots and pans may be
placed on hooks that hang on a rack that may be assembled in the
kitchen area. Where cookware is stored in a cabinet many times the
lids that may be associated with a particular pot or skillet may
not be readily accessible and therefore a user may have to locate
the correct lid for the container. Furthermore, the stacking may
not be uniform and therefore various size pots and pans must be
inefficiently stored in the cabinet.
[0006] Some storage racks have been developed to provide a means to
store and organize cookware. One such device is disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 4,290,531 which discloses a holder for suspending the
handles of pots from hooks and where each hook includes a co-acting
vertical elongated member that provides a means to engage the pot
lid whereas the pot and lid are stored together on one suspended
member. Another example of a pot and pan mounting apparatus is
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,608,305 that discloses a sliding panel
that may be mounted in a cabinet unit or under a work counter where
the panel is contained within the cabinet and provides a means to
support pots, pans and covers thereof.
[0007] Although some devices have been developed to address the
problem of cookware storage, further development in this area is
necessary as to provide the user with a suitable means for storage
of cookware. Such a device is desirable that may be placed within a
cabinet where the pots and lids are stored away from sight but are
however conveniently stored so that they may be easily located.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention relates to a storage rack assembly for
storing cookware comprising: a mountable rack assembly, said rack
assembly includes two side bars and plurality of bars, where said
cross bars join the side bars and create a rack assembly; side
rails along the side bars of the rack assembly wherein the side
rails provide a means for mounting the rack assembly onto a ball
bearing mounting slides; a plurality of adjustable hooks, where
said hooks are insertable upon the rack assembly and capable of
receiving pots and pans for storage; and at least one midsection
bar that joins the side bars at a mid section of the rack assembly.
In one particular embodiment, the storage rack assembly is
substantially rectangular in shape.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 provides a top view of a storage rack system for
organizing cookware according to the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 provides a front view of a storage rack system for
organizing cookware according to the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 provides a side view of a storage rack system for
organizing cookware according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] The present invention relates to a storage rack for
organizing, pots, pans, skillets and other cookware that is easily
accessible but is stored within a conventional kitchen cabinet. The
storage rack according to the present invention is stored and
mounted into a lower cabinet so that it is concealed and therefore
provides a convenient means for the storage of cookware. The
storage rack according to the present invention is self-contained
and may vary in size to accommodate various sizes of cabinets.
[0013] A Storage Rack 10 is depicted in FIG. 1. The Storage Rack 10
includes a plurality of adjustable Hooks 12 and a
ball-bearing-mounted draw Assembly 14. As noted a number of pots,
pans or other cookware may be hung upon the plurality of Hooks 12
provided in the Storage Rack 10. The storage rack is mounted upon
ball-bearing slides that are on the inner walls of the cabinet
where the storage rack is mounted. Consequently, the Storage Rack
10 may be pulled out like a drawer to provide access to the
cookware on the Storage Rack 10. The Storage Rack 10 is
substantially rectangular in shape and may be adjustable in height
and width to accommodate various cabinet sizes. The frame section
of the Storage Rack 10 may be manufactured of plywood, metal or
recycled plastics.
[0014] Although not shown, straps may be provided to secure the
lids to the corresponding pots that are stored within the Storage
Rack 10. The straps provide a means to secure the cookware in one
complete unit and to allow the pot or pan to hang from one of the
Hooks 12. The Hooks 12 have an S shape and are suspended upon rods
that run along the depth of the Storage Rack 10. Since the Hooks 12
are not permanently attached to any particular position within the
Storage Rack 10, the Hooks 12 may be positioned in a manner to
accommodate the cookware that is desired to be stored within the
Storage Rack 10.
[0015] The draw Assembly 14 is a frame configuration that includes
Side Rails 18a, 18b which extend along the Side Bars 11a, 11b. The
Side Bars 11a, 11b adjoin with Cross Bars 13a, 13b, therefore the
frame section of the storage rack includes a substantially
rectangular shape. In addition to the Cross Bars 13a, 13b,
Midsection Bars 21a, 21b, 21c are provided across the mid section
of the opening that creates the frame of the Storage Rack 10. The
Midsection Bars 21a, 21b, 21c provide a means for the hanging of
Hooks 12 throughout the Frame Assembly 14. The Hooks 12 may be
attached across the various bars that make up the construction of
the Frame Assembly 14. Although shown in this particular embodiment
with a rectangular shape, the Frame Assembly 14 may also be
configured in a square configuration based upon the desired
application of the Storage Rack 10. The Side Rails 18a, 18b are
rails that suitable for insertion onto a ball bearing draw assembly
and would receive ball bearing assembly on the inner walls of the
cabinet, not shown. The plurality of Hooks 12 provide a means for
hanging various pots and pans onto the frame assembly once it's
inserted into a cabinet for use.
[0016] Cookware may be removed out of Storage Rack 10 as desired
and then the rack is pushed along the ball-bearing mountings into
the cabinet so that the cabinet may be shut to contain the cookware
collection. The advantage of using the Storage Rack 10 according to
the present invention is the expandability of the storage system
that may be expanded within the lower cabinet areas of any kitchen.
Should lower cabinet space become unavailable or full to capacity
additional cabinets may be made with a similar storage rack system
according to the present invention. The present invention provides
an efficient and effective device to store cookware in any kitchen.
The storage rack according to the present invention is easily
assembled within a lower cabinet without the use of specialized
equipment. The instant invention has been shown and described in
what it considers to be the most practical and preferred
embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made
there from within the scope of the invention and that obvious
modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.
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